List of religious leaders in 2005

2004 religious leaders - Events of 2005 - 2006 religious leaders - Religious leaders by year----

See also
*List of state leaders in 2005
*List of international organization leaders in 2005

Catholic churches

*Roman Catholic Church
*# John Paul II, Pope, Bishop of Rome (1978–2005)
*# Benedict XVI, Pope, Bishop of Rome (2005-present)
*Coptic Catholic Church (Alexandrian Rite) - Stephanos II, Patriarch of Alexandria (1986–present)
*Ethiopic Catholic Church (Alexandrian Rite) - Mgr Berhaneyesus Demerew, Archbishop of Addis-Ababa of Ethiopians (1999–present)
*Maronite Catholic Church (Antiochene Rite) - Nasrallah Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch (1986–present)
*Syrian Catholic Church (Antiochene Rite) - Ignatius Pierre VIII, Patriarch of Antioch (2001–present)
*Syro-Malankarese Catholic Church (Antiochian Rite)
*# Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, Archbishop of Trivandrum (1932–1953)
*# Benedict Mar Gregorios, Archbishop of Trivandrum (1953–1994)
*# Cyril Mar Baselios, Archbishop of Trivandrum (1995–2005), Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (2005–2007)
*# Isaac Cleemis Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (2007-present)
*Armenian Catholic Church (Armenian Rite) - Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of the Catholic Armenians (1999–present)
*Melkite Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Grégoire III Laham, Patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church (2000–present)
*Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Lubomyr Husar, Patriarch of Lviv (2000–2005), Patriarch of Kiev (2005–present)
*Romanian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Lucian Muresan, Metropolitan of Romania (1994–present)
*Ruthenian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Milan Sasik, Apostolic Administrator of Mukachevo (2002–present); Basil Myron Schott, Metropolitan of Pittsburgh (2002–present)
*Slovak Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Ján Babjak, Archbishop of Prešov (2002–present)
*Italo-Albanian Church (Byzantine Rite) - Mgr Ercole Lupinacci, Bishop of Lungro degli Italo-Albanesi (1987–present) ; Mgr Sotìr Ferrara, Bishop of Piana degli Albanesi (1989–present)
*Croatian Greek Catholic Church - Slavomir Miklovš, Bishop of Križevci (Byzantine) (1983–present)
*Hungarian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Szilárd Keresztes, Archbishop of Hajdúdorog (1988–present)
*Austrian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Christoph Schönborn, Ordinariate of Austria, (1995–present)
*Bulgarian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Christo Proykov, Archbishop of Sofia (1995–present)
*Chinese Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - "Vacant"
*Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Anarghyros Printesis, Archbishop of Athens (1975–present)
*Macedonian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) -
*# Joakim Herbut, Apostolic Exarchate of Macedonia (2001–2005)
*# Kiro Stojanov, Apostolic Exarchate of Macedonia (2005–present)
*Russian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - "Vacant"
*Czech Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Mgr Ladislav Hucko, Apostolic Exarchate of Czech Republic (2003–present)
*Turkish Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - "Vacant"
*Albanian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Hil Kabashi, Apostolic Administrator (1996–present)
*Belarusian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Sergiusz Gajek, Archimandrite, Visitator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" (1993–present)
*Serbian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - Djura Džudžar, Apostolic Exarch of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–present)
*Georgian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite) - "No organised hierarchy"
*Chaldean Catholic Church (Chaldean Rite) - Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church (2003–present)
*Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Chaldean Rite) - Varkey Mar Vithayathil, Major Archbishop (1999–present)
*Sovereign Military Order of Malta - Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie, Grand Master of the Order (1988–present)
*Teutonic Knights - Bruno Platter, Grand Master of the Order (2000–present)

Catholic Churches not currently in Communion with Rome

*Catholic Mariavite Church
*# Józef Maria Rafael Wojciechowski (1946–2005)
*# Beatrycze Szulgowicz (2005–present)
*Liberal Catholic Church International - Archbishop Charles Finn, Presiding Bishop
*Old Catholic Church of the Mariavites - Wlodzimierz Jaworski, Bishop-Primate (1997–present)
*Polish National Catholic Church of America - Robert M. Nemkovich, Prime Bishop (2002–present)
*Society of St. Pius X - Bernard Fellay, Superior General

Independent Catholic Churches (not in Communion with Rome)

*The Ancient Apostolic Communion - Anthony I, Patriarch (2002–present}

Eastern Orthodox churches

*Constantinople - Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome (1991–present)
*Alexandria - Theodore II, Greek Patriarch of Alexandria, and all Africa (2004–present)
*Antioch - Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch (1979–present)
*Jerusalem -
*# Irinaios I, Patriarch of Jerusalem (2001–2005)
*# Commission (Kornilios of Petra, Basileios of Caesarea, and Hesychios of Kapitolias) (2005)
*# Kornilios of Petra (Locum Tenens) (2005)
*# Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine (2005–present)
*Russia - Alexius II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1990–present)
*Serbia - Pavle of Serbia, Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of the Serbs (1990–present)
*Romania - Teoctist I, Patriarch of All Romania (1986–2007)
*Bulgaria - Maxim of Bulgaria, Patriarch of All Bulgaria (1971–present)
*Georgia - Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi (1977–present)
*Cyprus -
** Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (1977–2006)
** Chrysostomos of Paphos, acting for Chrysostomos (2002–present)
*Greece - Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1998–present)
*Poland - Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland (1998–present)
*Albania - Anastasius of Albania, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1992–present)
*Czech Lands and Slovakia - Christopher, Metropolitan of All Czech Lands and Slovakia (2006–present)
*North America - Herman (Swaiko), Metropolitan of All America and Canada (2002–present)

Autonomous Orthodox Churches

*Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai (autonomy under Patriarchate of Jerusalem) - Damianos, Archbishop of Sinai (1973–present)
*Orthodox Church of Finland (autonomy under Ecumenical Patriarchate) - Leo, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland (2001–present)
*Orthodox Church of Estonia (autonomy under Ecumenical Patriarchate) - Stephanos, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia (1999–present)
*Orthodox Church of Japan (autonomy under Russia) - Daniel, Metropolitan of All Japan (2000–present)
*Orthodox Church of Ukraine (autonomy under Russia) - Vladimir II, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine (1992–present)
*Orthodox Church of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (autonomy under Serbia) -
** Ioannis VI, Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje (2005–present)
** Marko, acting for Ioannis VI (2005–present)
*Orthodox Church of Bessarabia (autonomy under Romania) - Petru, Metropolitan (1992–present)

chismatic Orthodox Churches

* Montenegrin Orthodox Church - Mihailo, Archbishop (1997-present)
* Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia -
** Metropolitan Laurus (2001-present)
** Vitaly, Metropolitan in opposition (2001-present)
* Russian True Orthodox Church
** Vyacheslav, Metropolitan (2000-present)
* Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
** Mefodiy, Metropolitan (2000-present)
* Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kiev Patriarchate
** Filaret, Patriarch (1995-present)

Old Believers

*Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church
** Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Russia - Oleg Ivanovich Rozanov
** Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Belarus - Pyotr Alexandrovich Orlov (2001–present)
** Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Latvia - Alexy Karatayev
** Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Lithuania - Nikolay Pilnikov (2002–present)
** Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Poland - Feodosy Novichenko (1993–present)
*Lipovan Orthodox Old-Rite Church - Leonty (Izotov) (1996–present)
*Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church
*# Andrian (2004–2005)
*# Ioann of Kostroma and Yaroslavl, "Locum Tenens" (2005)
*# Korniliy (Titov) (2005–present)
*Russian Old-Orthodox Church - A. Alexander of Novozybkov, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (2000–present)

Oriental Orthodox Churches

*Armenian Apostolic Church -
** Karekin II, Catholicos of Armenia (1999–present)
** Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia (1995–present)
*Assyrian Church of the East - Mar Dinkha IV, Patriarch (1976–present)
*Ancient Church of the East - Mar Addai II, Patriarch (1969–present)
*Coptic Orthodox Church - Shenouda III of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (1971–present)
*Eritrean Orthodox Church -
*# Antonios (2003–2005)
*# Dioskoros (2005–present)
*Ethiopian Orthodox Church - Abune Paulos (1992–present)
*Syriac Orthodox Church - Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (1980–present)
*Malankara Orthodox Syriac Church - Catholicos of the East Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews II (1991–present)

Anglican Churches - Churches in Communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury

*Church of England -
** Formal leadership - Elizabeth II, Supreme Governor of the Church of England (1952–present)
** Effective leadership - Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (2002–present)
*Episcopal Church in the United States of America - Also known as The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
** Presiding Bishop - The Most Rev. Frank Griswold (1995–present)
** President of the House of Deputies - The Very Rev. George L.W. Werner (2000–present)
*Anglican Church of Canada - Most Rev. Andrew Hutchison, Primate
*Old Catholic Church (Also deemed to be Catholics not in communion with Rome) - Dr. Joris Vercammen, Archbishop of Utrecht (2000–present), President of the International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference
*Philippine Independent Church (Also deemed to be Catholics not in communion with Rome) -
*# Tomas A. Millamena (1999–2005), Obispo Maximo X (Tenth Supreme Bishop)
*# Godofredo J. David (2005–present), Obispo Maximo XI (Eleventh Supreme Bishop)
*Mar Thoma Church - His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Metropolitan (1999–present)

Protestant churches

*Assemblies of God - Thomas E. Trask, General superintendent of the Assemblies of God (1993–present)
*Christian Alliance Ministries - Rev.Bishop.Dr.Jefferson Tasleem Ghauri, International Director of CAM (2003–present)
*United Church of Canada - Peter Short, Moderator (2003–2006)
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop (2001–present)
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada - Raymond Schultz, National Bishop
*Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad - Udo Petersoo, Bishop of Canada, (1990–present)
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia -
*# Jaan Kiivit, Jr (1994–2005)
*# Andres Põder (2005–present)
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland - Jukka Paarma, Archbishop of Turku (1998–present)
*Evangelical Church in Germany- Barbara Rinke President of the Synod (2003-present)
*Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Gerald B. Kieschnick (2001–present)
*Lutheran World Federation - Mark Hanson, President (2003–present)
*National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. - Dr. William J. Shaw, President (2003–present)
*Church of Norway - Harald V of Norway, King of Norway (1991-present)
*Presbyterian Church in Canada - the Rev. J. Mark Lewis, Moderator
*Salvation Army - John Larsson, General (2002–present)
*Seventh-day Adventist Church - Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (1999–present)
*Southern Baptist Convention - Bobby Welch, President of the Southern Baptist Convention (2004–present)
*Church of Sweden - Karl Gustav Hammar, Archbishop of Uppsala (1997–present)
*United Methodist Church - Bishop Peter Weaver, President of the Bishops' Council "(limited authority)"
*Worldwide Church of God - Joseph Tkach, Jr., Pastor-General of the Worldwide Church of God (1995–present)
*Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) - Karl R. Gurgel, President (1993–present)

Other Christian

*General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) - Rt. Rev. Thomas L. Kline, Executive Bishop
*Christian Science - (No clergy) - Board of directors (five members): J. Thomas Black, Walter D. Jones, Nathan Talbot, Mary M. Trammell,Chair and M. Victor Westberg
*The Worldwide Church of Jesus Christ- Rev.Bishop.Dr.Jefferson Tasleem Ghauri
*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) - Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1995–present)
*Community of Christ - Stephen M. Veazey, President (2005–present)
*National Council of Churches USA - Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA (2000-present)
*World Council of Churches - Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (2004–present)
*New Apostolic Church
*# Richard Fehr, Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1988–2005)
*# Wilhelm Leber, Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church (2005–present)
*Shakers - Sister Frances Carr (acts as Eldress and Trustee if not as leader per se as the group is egalitarian)
*Swedenborgian Church of North America - Christine Laitner, President (2003–present)

unni Islam

"Note: It is important to mention Sunni Islam has no leaders as the term is understood in the Christian world. There is currently no caliph. Even when the caliphate was active it was not equivalent to a Sunni "Pope" or "Dalai Lama". In fact such a thing could well be deemed shirk in orthodox Sunni circles. The following people are mentioned to add Sunni content as they are leading figures."
*Al-Azhar Universityالأزهر الشريف - Muhammad Sayid Tantawy, Imam
*Jerusalem - Sheikh Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (As a Grand Mufti he has a degree of legal authority in Sunni Islam without being its leader)
*Egypt - Shaikh Ali Gomaa, Grand Mufti of Arab Republic of Egypt
*Pakistan - Shaikh Rafi Usmani, Grand Mufti of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
*Saudi Arabia - Shaikh Abdul-Azeez bin Abdullaa bin Muhammad Aal ash-Shaikh, Grand Mufti of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
*Tunisia - Shaikh Kamal-u-Din Ja'eit, Grand Mufti of Tunisia
*Uzbekistan - Shaikh Abdurahman Bakhromov, Grand Mufti of Uzbekistan
*Bosnia and Herzegovina - Shaikh Mustafa Ef. Cerić, Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina
*Russia - Shaikh Ravil Gainutdin, Grand Mufti of Russian Federation
*France - Shaikh Soheïb Bencheikh, Grand Mufti of France

Islam: Ismaili, Ahmadiyya, and Druze

*Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - Khalifatul Masih V (2003-present)
*Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement - Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha (2002–present)
*Dawoodi Bohras - Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (1965-present)
*Nizari (Isma`ilia) - Aga Khan IV (1957-present)
*Lebanese Druze - Walid Jumblatt, leading figure

"(Status as a part of Islam is highly disputed, more so than even with Ahmadiyya, but has Ismaili origins) - There is little official hierarchy in the religious community, except for the Shaykh al-'Aqel, whose role is more political and social rather than religious. The religious inner circle is called the uqqal and the elite of them are called ajawīd. The ajawīd represent approximately .2%-.4% of their population."

Judaism

*World Jewish Congress - Edgar M. Bronfman (1981–present)
*Israel (Ashkenazi) - Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi (2003–present)
*Israel (Sephardic) - Shlomo Amar, Chief Rabbi (2003–present)
*Turkey - Isak Haleva, Chief Rabbi (2002–present)
*United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth - Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi (1991–present)
*Israeli Leader of the Orthodox Ashkenazi Haredi non-Hasidic ("Lithuanian Jews") - Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv
*Orthodox Union - Stephen J. Savitsky, President of Lay Leadership (2004–present); Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President
*Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism) - Rabbi Perry Raphael Rank, President
*Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox Judaism) - Rabbi Dale Polakoff
*Samaritan - Elazar ben Tsedaka, High Priest (2004–present)
* Cyprus - Arie Zeev Raskin, Chief Rabbi (2005-present)
*Union for Reform Judaism - Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President

"Note: As with Islam these leaders may not necessarily have that much authority, it varies from group to group."

Eastern

*Tibetan Buddhism (Dge-lugs-pa sect) -
** Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama (14th one) (1939–present)
** Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Panchen Lama recognized by the Dalaï Lama (11th Panchen Lama) (1995–present)
** Gyancain Norbu, Panchen Lama installed by the Chinese Government (1995–present)
*Tibetan Buddhism (Karma-Kagyu sect) -
** Trinley Thaye Dorje, Karmapa Lama (17th one) (1994–present)
** Ugyen Trinley Dorje, rival Karmapa Lama (1992–present)
*Tibetan Buddhism (Sakya sect) - Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Palbar Samphel Wanggi Gyalpo, Throne Holder (1951–present)
*Mongolia's Buddhists - Jambalnamdolchoijijantsan, Bogdo Gegeen (9th one) (1936-present) "("confirmed" in 1991)"
*Thailand's Buddhists - Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (1989-present)
** Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand - Somdet Kiaw (2004-present)
*Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia - Preah Maha Ghosananda (1988–present)
*Bön - Lungtok Tenpai Nyima
*Chogye - Rev. Bub Jang
*Nichiren Shoshu - High Priest Nikken Abe
*Konkokyo - Konko Heiki, Spiritual Leader (1991–present)
*Tendai - Most Venerable Eshin Watanabe, Patriarch of Tendai Buddhism
*Shinto - Most Reverend Kuniaki Kuni is the Jingu Daiguji of the Grand Shrine of Ise (This does not make Kuniaki Kuni the leader of Shinto per se, but mentioned as a respected figure over arguably the holiest site in Shinto)

Other

Bahá'í

*Bahá'í Faith - Universal House of Justice

Western origin

*Mandaeanism - Satar Jabar Helo
*Sikhism - Joginder Singh Vedanti, leading figure (as the current Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib)
*Unitarian Universalist Association - Rev. William G. Sinkford, President (2001–present)
*Yazidi - Prince Tahsin Sayid Beg
*W.A.P.I. Zoroastrians (Iranian Zoroastrians) - Areez P. Khambatta, Presdident
*Bombay Parsi Punchayat (Zoroastrian, generally orthodox) - Minoo Shroff, President (2003 (at least)-present)
*World Zoroastrian Organization - Sammy H. Bhiwandiwalla, Chairman (2004–present)

Indian subcontinent origin

*Federation of Jain Associations in North America - Mr. Anop R. Vora, President
*Terapanthi Jains - H. H. Acharya Mahapragya
*Ramakrishna Mission - Gahanananda, fourteenth President of the group

New religions

Eastern or Hindu derived

*Falun Gong - Li Hongzhi, Foundator (1992)
*Sathya Sai Baba - Sathya Sai Baba
*Rissho Kosei Kai - Nichiko Niwano, President
*Soka Gakkai - Einosuke Akiya (1981–present)

Christian or Christian derived

*Iglesia ni Cristo - Eraño G. Manalo (1963–present)
*Jehovah's Witnesses -
** Governing Body of the Jehovah's Witnesses - Carey Barber (1977-present), John Barr (1977-present), Samuel Herd (1999-present), Geoffrey Jackson (2005-present), Theodore Jaracz (1974-present), Steve Lett (1999-present), Gerrit Losch (1994-present), Anthony Morris (2005-present), Guy Pierce (1999-present), Albert Schroeder (1974-present), David Splane (1999-present), Daniel Sydlik (1974-present)
** Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania - Don A. Adams, President (2000–present)
*Kimbanguist Church - Simon Kiangani (2001–present)
*Mita Congregation - Teofilo Vargas Sein (1970–present)
*Unification Church - Sun Myung Moon (1954–present)
*Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Edir Macedo (1979–present)

Islam or Islam derived

*Nation of Islam - Louis Farrakhan (1978–present)
*Sky Kingdom - Ariffin Mohamad (1975–present)

peculative science derived

*Scientology -
**David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center [http://www.rtc.org/david-miscavige.htm] , "highest ecclesiastical official of the Scientology religion" (1987–present)
**Heber Jentzsch, official president of the Church of Scientology (1982–present)
*Raelism - Claude Vorilhon (1976–present)

External links

*http://www.rulers.org/relig.html
*http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/
*http://www.faswebdesign.com/ECPA/ (Eastern Catholic Churches)
*fr_icon http://www.eleves.ens.fr/home/sray/seca/ (Byzantine structures and Oriental Catholic Churches)
*http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita2/uhj-members-timeline.htm (Baha´i Faith, Timeline of members of the Universal House of Justice)
*http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=197 (Bogdo Gegeen)
*http://www.zanabazar.mn/Life/javzandamba.html (Bogdo Gegeen)
*fr_icon http://www.orthodoxie.com
*http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org